HELOISE: Multiple ways to tenderize meat

Dear Heloise: Lately, meat (such as London broil and beef roast) seems to be very tough to eat after being broiled or roasted. Powdered tenderizers don’t seem to work. Is there any natural way of tenderizing?

Perry W. in Staten Island, N.Y.

Yes, there is, but here’s a hint about using powdered tenderizer or different cuts of meat. When you put an enzyme-type tenderizer on thick cuts of meat, you need to pierce deeply using a fork or skewer, let sit for 30 minutes, then cook.

With thinner cuts, sprinkle the tenderizer on, pierce with a fork and cook right away.

There are “homemade” tenderizers that you can soak meat in overnight. Here are a few examples: vinegar (balsamic, apple cider, etc.), wine, lemon juice, buttermilk, yogurt or Italian dressing. Looking for an idea for a main dish? Order a copy of my Main Dishes and More pamphlet. Send $3 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (61 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Main Dishes, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: When marinating meat, put it, along with the marinade, in a plastic zipper-top bag and place in a cake pan, then put in the fridge. A couple of times a day, reach in and turn the bag.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: We use cupcake papers when making cornbread muffins, and they stick to the muffin tin. Now we use the foil cupcake liners — with the paper insert removed. Peel off the foil and the muffin stays intact. We save the paper inserts to use for regular cupcakes — two uses out of one (this came from my mother-in-law).

Lauri in Ohio

Lauri, I tested this making cornbread in the foil cupcake liners, and you are right, they peel right off. Here’s something I discovered while doing this: The container label says, “Discard paper separators.” So, for readers who may have sticking cupcakes, check the paper liner!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: When you bake cookies and want to store them in a round cookie tin, use a paper coffee filter as the divider between the layers of cookies. The filters are the perfect size.

When cooking, hang a plastic grocery sack on the cabinet doorknob to drop waste into. Have it near where you work, and it makes your work much easier. Cleanup is a snap.

Helen Eagleburger in Springfield, Mo.

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate